Trophy column for interchangeable display of design elements

ABSTRACT

Generally, a trophy having a column element disposed between a base element and figurine element configured to interchangeably receive display elements.

This United States Non-Provisional Patent Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/336,943, filed Jan. 27, 2010, hereby incorporated by reference in the entirety herein.

I. BACKGROUND

Generally, a trophy having a column element disposed between a base element and figurine element configured to interchangeably receive display elements.

Conventional trophies typically include a base portion, a column portion and a figurine portion which are engaged in fixed relation to each other. These portions of the trophy are typically axially slidably engaged about the longitudinal axis of a mechanical fastener which operates to draw the trophy elements together into fixed engagement with one another.

A substantial problem with conventional trophies can be that the column portion has an external surface with a fixed appearance such as color, texture, graphics or the like. To change the external surface appearance of the column portion of the trophy, the trophy is disassembled and the entire column is replaced with a column having a different fixed appearance. Typically, the owner or recipient of a trophy cannot readily change the external appearance of the column by removing or adding color, texture, or graphic elements or personalize the column of the trophy by incorporation of articles of individual or promotional interest.

Another substantial problem with conventional trophies can be that the base portion, the column portion and the figurine portion do not readily disassemble and reassemble. Typically, the column portion of a trophy is disposed between the figurine portion and the base portion each of which are drawn against the corresponding opposed ends of the column portion by operation of engaged opposed ends of a spirally threaded rod which makes disassembly and re-assembly for the purpose of changing the column portion inconvenient, expensive and time consuming.

Another substantial problem with conventional trophies can be that the internal volume of the column can be visually interrupted along the central longitudinal axis by the mechanical fastener utilized to retain in fixed relation the base portion, the column portion and the figurine portion. As a result, the column portion of a trophy is typically not visually transparent.

Another substantial problem with conventional trophies can be that the column portion cannot interchangeably receive display elements within the internal volume of the column portion.

Another substantial problem with conventional trophies can be that there is no computer implemented display element production system to assist in the production of display elements by the consumer or recipient of a trophy which can be interchangeably displayed in the column portion of a trophy.

The invention described herein addresses the problem of conventional fixed engagement of trophy elements.

II. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, a broad object of the invention can be to provide an inventive trophy having a column element which can be readily assembled and disassembled in relation to a figurine element and a base element to allow display elements to be removably located within the column element.

Another broad object of the invention can be to provide a column element which assembles and disassembles in relation to a figurine element and a base element which avoids the use of an axial mechanical fastener which passes through the column to draw the base element and figurine element in relation to the column element.

Another broad object of the invention can be to provide a visually transparent column element in which display elements can be located for archival, storage or display purposes and visualized from without.

Another broad object of the invention can be to provide a display element production program which matches design elements against a list of particular embodiments of the column element or trophy to assist the consumer or recipient of the trophy to prepare a two dimensional design element field for the production of display elements for a particular embodiment of the trophy.

Naturally, further objects of the invention are disclosed throughout other areas of the specification, drawings, photographs, and claims.

III. A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view which shows a column element in which display elements can be established within and can be coupled to a figurine element and a base element to produce an embodiment of the inventive trophy.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view which shows a column element having first column element and a second column element fixed in co-axial relation which provides an inter-column space in which display elements can be established and such column element can be coupled to a figurine element and a base element to produce an embodiment of the inventive trophy.

IV. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Generally, a trophy having a column element disposed between a base element and figurine element configured to interchangeably receive display elements.

Now referring primarily to FIG. 1, which shows an embodiment of the inventive trophy (1) which comprises a column element (2) disposed between a pair of trophy elements comprising a figurine element (3) and a base element (4).

The term “base element” for the purposes of this invention refers to a base element (4) which couples to a first end (5) of the column element (2) and engages a support surface (6) to establish the second end (7) of the column element (2) a distance above the support surface (6). While the base element (4) shown in FIG. 1 provides a substantially planar or flat bottom surface (8) which engages a correspondingly flat or substantially planar support surface (6); the invention is not so limited and the base element (4) can have a bottom surface (8) configured to sufficiently matingly engage a correspondingly configured support surface (6). As one non-limiting example, the base element can have a bottom surface (8) having concave surface to correspondingly mate a convex support surface. A portion of the base element (4) can be further configured to provide a column coupling element (9) which allows a portion of the base element (4) to removably couple with the first end (5) of the column element (2). Embodiments of the column coupling element (9) avoid use of a conventional mechanical fastener (21) which fixedly couples the conventional base portion (40) to a conventional figurine portion (41) by passing through the internal volume of the conventional column portion (not shown) allowing the base portion (40) and the figurine portion (41) to be drawn toward a conventional column portion disposed between.

Now referring primarily to FIG. 1, as one non-limiting example, the column coupling element (9) can provide a cylindrical recess (10) which receives the first end (5) of a cylindrical column element (2). The cylindrical recess (10) can have a plurality of projection elements (11) spaced at intervals about the circumference of the internal surface (12) of the cylindrical recess (10). The intervals (13) between the plurality of projection elements (11) of the column coupling element (9) can be spaced a sufficient distance apart about the circumference of the column coupling element (9) to receive a corresponding plurality of column projections (14) extending outwardly from the external surface (15) of the column element (2) proximate the first end (5) of the column element (2). The plurality of column projections (14) can be disposed at a level below the plurality of projection elements (11) of the column coupling element (9). The plurality of column projections (14) can be rotated to engage the upper surface (16) of the plurality column projections (14) with the bottom surface (17) of the projection elements (11) of the column coupling element (9) to substantially prevent axial disengagement. Understandably, a numerous and wide variety of coupling elements can be utilized to matingly engage the first end (5) of the column element (2) to the base element (4) such as: friction fit of the external surface (15) of the first end (5) of the column element (2) with the internal surface (12) of the column coupling element (9), mated spiral thread between the external surface (15) of the first end (5) of the column element (2) and the internal surface (12) of the column coupling element (9), mated halves of a snap fitting, or the like. The configuration of the base element (4) between the bottom surface (8) and the column coupling element (9) can be of any constructional form which does not impede engagement of the bottom surface (8) with the support surface (6) or the column coupling element (9) with the column element (2).

The term “figurine element” for the purposes of the invention refers to a figurine element (3) which couples to the second end (18) of the column element (2). The figurine element (3) can include a figurine coupling element (19) having any of the configurations as above described for the base coupling element (4). The remaining portion of the figurine element (3) can have any manner of constructional form and while FIG. 1 shows a figurine configured as a cheer leader; the invention is not so limited, and the figurine element (3) can as non-limiting examples be configured as an automotive vehicle, an animal, or any desired design as one or a plurality of components in fixed or moveable relation.

The term “column element” for the purposes of embodiments of the invention provides a column body (20) disposed between a first column end (5) and a second column end (7). The first column end (5) configured to removably engage the base coupling element (9) and the second column end (7) configured to removably engage the figurine coupling element (19), each as above described and including the particular embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The column element (2) while shown in FIG. 1 as being generally cylindrical; the invention is not so limited, and embodiments the column element (2) can be substantially cylindrical proximate the first end (5) and the second end (7) and can be of any other configuration between, including for example, triangular, square, rectangular, oval, trapezoid or other configuration in cross section. As to other embodiments of the column element (2) the first end (5) and the second end (7) can be configured to be received by a base coupling element (9) and a figurine coupling element (19) configured for external column configurations other than cylindrical.

A first prominent advantage of the disengagably coupled structure of the figurine element (3), column element (2) and base element (4) as above described is avoidance of a conventional axial mechanical fastener (21) for coupling the trophy (1) components together. As a result the inventive trophy (1) provides ready disassembly of the column element (2) from the figurine element (3) or the base element (4), or both.

A second prominent advantage of the disengageably coupled structure of the figurine element (3), column element (2) and base element (4) as above described allows the column element (2) to be in part or in whole visually transparent without having a conventional axial mechanical fastener (21) in the visual field as shown for example in FIG. 2, or the like; however, the invention is not so limited and the column element (2) can be non-transparent if only the advantage of more ready assembly and disassembly desired. Additionally, the column element (2) does not have to be clear to be visually transparent and can have a greater or lesser amount color as desired. The inventive structure of the inventive trophy (1) provides an internal space (22) which can be utilized for locating objects, articles or materials (“display elements (23)”) for archival, storage or display purposes. As to those embodiments of the inventive trophy (1) having a column element (2) structured as above described and being visually transparent, display elements (23) (which can be any one or plurality of similar or dissimilar objects or articles) can be introduced into either the first end (5) or the second end (18) of the column element (2). As one non-limiting example, the display element (23) can be one or a collection of objects or articles related to the process or competition for which the trophy was afforded the recipient which can be located within the column element (2), such as the winner's ribbon, the jump rope used in a rope jump competition, the marbles used in a marble shooting competition, or the like. As a second non-limiting example, the display element (23) can be a thin sheet material capable of being contoured to engage substantially all or a portion of the internal surface (24) of the column element (2) for display and visualization through a visually transparent column element (2). Non-limiting examples of the thin sheet material can be a photographic material as shown by the example of FIG. 2, paper or plastic sheet material with any manner of design elements affixed or imprinted on the surface of the sheet. A third non-limiting example, the display material (23) can be an award, prize, coupon, certificate, earnings, or object related to the competition for which the inventive trophy (1) was awarded. Understandably, the display element (23) can be any article(s), objects or material which can be located within the column element (2). The display elements (23) can be periodically interchanged to refresh the look of the column element (2) or inventive trophy (1).

Now referring primarily to FIG. 2, another embodiment of the inventive trophy (1) can provide a first column element (2) as above described further providing in fixed relation within a second column element (25). While a particular embodiment of the first column element (2) and the second column element (25) can be established in co-axial fixed relation with the internal side wall (26) of the first column element (2) and the external side wall (27) of the second column element (25) located a greater or lesser distance apart. For example, the external side wall (27) of the second column element (25) can be located to substantially engage the internal side wall (26) of the first column element (2) or can be a distance apart in a range of about one thirty second of an inch to about one-half of an inch depending on the size and application of the inventive trophy (1).

The second column element (25) as to certain embodiments can be non-visually transparent to visually obscure conventional axial mechanical fasteners (21) joining the figurine element (3), the column element (2) and the base element (4) as shown in FIG. 2. As to these embodiments of the inventive trophy (1), the first column element (2) can be conventionally configured without projection elements (11) or column projections (14) extending from the external surface (15) of the column element (2) and the internal surface of the figurine coupling element (19) and column coupling element (9).

Display elements (23) as above described can located between the internal side wall (26) of the first column element (2) and the external side wall (27) of the second column element (2). As a non-limiting example, the display elements (23) can be a sheet of material contoured to removably insert between the first column element (2) and the second column element (25). Because the distance between the first column element (2) and the second column element (25) can be substantial, the sheet material can have objects, articles or other materials of substantial thickness attached or affixed, or design elements imprinted, or all of the above.

Now referring primarily to FIG. 2, certain embodiments of the inventive trophy can further include a computer implemented display element production system (28). The display element production system (28) can comprise a conventional computer (28) with monitor (29) and printer (30). The printer (30) can be configured to print on a variety of sheet materials as would be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the computer and computer printer arts. A computer implemented display element production program (31) whether operated solely on a conventional computer (28) such as a personal computer individually or as part of a local area network (32) or wide area network (35) for example the Internet (34), or a combination thereof, can function to match each of a plurality of particular column elements (2) as above described or otherwise to the particular dimensions or plurality of dimensions of display elements (23) which can be interchangeably fitted within a particular one of the column elements (2). The design element production program (31) can be loaded from any conventional storage media such as floppy or compact disc, travel drive, or down loaded over the Internet (34). Accordingly, the entire design element production program (31) can be stored in whole on a conventional computer (28) or distributed between a personal computer and remote computer (33) accessible over a LAN (32), WAN (35) or Internet (34).

As one non-limiting example, of the design element production system (31), a consumer or recipient of an inventive trophy (1) can load the design element production program (31) to the memory (36) of a personal computer (28) and operate the functionalities of the design element production program (31) by a graphic user interface (37) generated by the program (31) to match the configuration of trophy (1) to a range of display elements (23) which can be interchangeably fitted therein. Design elements (38) selectable through the graphic user interface (37) generated by the program (31) will be limited to those which can be utilized with the particular embodiment of the trophy (1); although these will typically be limited in dimensional relation to the particular trophy (1) and can included a numerous and wide variety of design elements (38) which can be utilized individually or collectively, such as articles, objects, sheet material, photographs, beads, ribbons, printed material, or the like.

As will be understood of those of ordinary skill in the art of computer design programs design elements (38) which can be included in the two dimensional display field (39) can be stored locally on a computer (28) or LAN (32) or can be downloaded within a WAN (35). The design elements (38) can be altered by the functionalities of a number of conventional design applications which allow design elements (38) to be presented in a selected size, color, borders, text, font, weight, contrast, content, background, foreground, or the like.

Once the dimensional relationship of the design elements (38) is established in the two dimensional display field (39) of the display element (23), the two dimensional display field (39) can be printed including any photographic images within the field (39). Articles, objects, and the like can have the location imprinted on the two dimensional display field (39) and can then be affixed to the display element (23). The completed display element (23) can be introduced within the column element (2) whether having a single wall as shown in FIG. 1 or a double wall as shown in FIG. 2.

For the purposes of the present invention, ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint.

Moreover, for the purposes of the present invention, the term “a” or “an” entity refers to one or more of that entity; for example, “a column” refers to one or more of the entity. As such, the terms “a” or “an”, “one or more” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein.

As can be easily understood from the foregoing, the basic concepts of the present invention may be embodied in a variety of ways. The invention involves numerous and varied embodiments of an inventive trophy system which provides a trophy readily assembled and disassembled for interchangeability of display elements which can be generated by use of a display element production system which allows the design of display elements coordinated to the particular version of the inventive trophy.

As such, the particular embodiments or elements of the invention disclosed by the description or shown in the figures or tables accompanying this application are not intended to be limiting, but rather exemplary of the numerous and varied embodiments generically encompassed by the invention or equivalents encompassed with respect to any particular element thereof. In addition, the specific description of a single embodiment or element of the invention may not explicitly describe all embodiments or elements possible; many alternatives are implicitly disclosed by the description and figures.

It should be understood that each element of an apparatus or each step of a method may be described by an apparatus term or method term. Such terms can be substituted where desired to make explicit the implicitly broad coverage to which this invention is entitled. As but one example, it should be understood that all steps of a method may be disclosed as an action, a means for taking that action, or as an element which causes that action. Similarly, each element of an apparatus may be disclosed as the physical element or the action which that physical element facilitates. As but one example, the disclosure of “display elements” should be understood to encompass disclosure of the act of “displaying elements”—whether explicitly discussed or not—and, conversely, were there effectively disclosure of the act of “displaying elements”, such a disclosure should be understood to encompass disclosure of “display elements” and even a “means for displaying elements” Such alternative terms for each element or step are to be understood to be explicitly included in the description.

In addition, as to each term used it should be understood that unless its utilization in this application is inconsistent with such interpretation, common dictionary definitions should be understood to included in the description for each term as contained in the Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, second edition, each definition hereby incorporated by reference.

Thus, the applicant(s) should be understood to claim at least: i) each of the trophy configurations herein disclosed and described, ii) the related methods disclosed and described, iii) similar, equivalent, and even implicit variations of each of these devices and methods, iv) those alternative embodiments which accomplish each of the functions shown, disclosed, or described, v) those alternative designs and methods which accomplish each of the functions shown as are implicit to accomplish that which is disclosed and described, vi) each feature, component, and step shown as separate and independent inventions, vii) the applications enhanced by the various systems or components disclosed, viii) the resulting products produced by such systems or components, ix) methods and apparatuses substantially as described hereinbefore and with reference to any of the accompanying examples, x) the various combinations and permutations of each of the previous elements disclosed.

The background section of this patent application provides a statement of the field of endeavor to which the invention pertains. This section may also incorporate or contain paraphrasing of certain United States patents, patent applications, publications, or subject matter of the claimed invention useful in relating information, problems, or concerns about the state of technology to which the invention is drawn toward. It is not intended that any United States patent, patent application, publication, statement or other information cited or incorporated herein be interpreted, construed or deemed to be admitted as prior art with respect to the invention.

The claims set forth in this specification, if any, are hereby incorporated by reference as part of this description of the invention, and the applicant expressly reserves the right to use all of or a portion of such incorporated content of such claims as additional description to support any of or all of the claims or any element or component thereof, and the applicant further expressly reserves the right to move any portion of or all of the incorporated content of such claims or any element or component thereof from the description into the claims or vice-versa as necessary to define the matter for which protection is sought by this application or by any subsequent application or continuation, division, or continuation-in-part application thereof, or to obtain any benefit of, reduction in fees pursuant to, or to comply with the patent laws, rules, or regulations of any country or treaty, and such content incorporated by reference shall survive during the entire pendency of this application including any subsequent continuation, division, or continuation-in-part application thereof or any reissue or extension thereon.

The claims set forth in this specification, if any, are further intended to describe the metes and bounds of a limited number of the preferred embodiments of the invention and are not to be construed as the broadest embodiment of the invention or a complete listing of embodiments of the invention that may be claimed. The applicant does not waive any right to develop further claims based upon the description set forth above as a part of any continuation, division, or continuation-in-part, or similar application. 

1. A trophy, comprising: a) a figurine element; b) a base element; and c) a column element coupled between said figurine element and said base element; said column element visually transparent; d) display elements interchangebly received within said column element; e) a computer implement program accessible by a user which matches said column element to a plurality of display elements interchangebly receiveable within said column element, said plurality of display elements selectably printable by said user. 